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May 7, 2014

How to write a press release

Getting press is one of a startup’s most “pressing”
challenges. As part-time PR manager at Graphene Frontiers (one of my many hats), I publish press releases to announce company successes, win press, and document our team’s achievements.

A press release is a short, official statement that
companies provide to media outlets to make announcements. Press releases are an
effective way to win media coverage since you’re essentially doing work for
the reporter.

Pro tip #1: All startups should publish more press
releases! They’re a great way to announce a new hire or celebrate that big customer
you finally acquired.

Once you’ve written the release, you can publish it via free
and low-cost services, like PRWeb, or you can search for a publisher specific
to your industry. Share the release with investors, clients, and accelerators—anyone
who supports your company should receive the news. And don’t forget to send a
copy to friendly reporters!

Fifth paragraphQuote from CEO. It’s
CRITICAL that this quote comes from the CEO, not another team member.

Closing boilerplateInclude boilerplate
text describing your company and any key stakeholders. For example, when I
wrote my last press release, we published it with the University City Science Center, so I included a description of what the Science Center does. If you’re
publishing a joint press release like this, leave time to request feedback from
the contributing organizations.

And…that’s it! Press releases are an easy way to document
your successes and win press for your company. Happy writing!